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Binge Eating/Bulimia and Depression 

Updated: Feb 8


Eating disorders are often associated with other mood disorders. One study found that depression was the MOST COMMON diagnosis that occurred within the 2,000-patient study of women who were receiving treatment for an eating disorder (1).  


What Is Depression?  


So what exactly is depression? According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2), if you experience some of the following symptoms nearly every day for at least 2 weeks, you may have depression: 


  • Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

  • Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

  • Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness

  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

  • Fatigue, lack of energy, or feeling slowed down

  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

  • Difficulty sleeping, waking too early in the morning, or oversleeping

  • Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes

  • Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not go away with treatment

  • Thoughts of death, suicide or suicide attempts


How Does Depression Relate to Binge Eating and Bulimia? 


Most of us have heard the term “emotional eating” and may correlate it to ice cream after a breakup or some chocolate before a hard test. With binge eating & bulimia it goes a bit deeper. There are many different theories as to why people with depression have a higher risk of developing one of these eating disorders, I will go over a few below.  


First, it’s important to note that during a binge people often eat what are called “highly palatable foods,” meaning foods high in sugar, fat, and salt. The overconsumption of THESE SPECIFIC foods has a certain response in the brain that is different than say, if you binge ate salad. 


  • One theory is that bingeing these highly palatable foods triggers a dopamine response. Dopamine is known to increase feelings of pleasure, motivation and satisfaction (3). Thus, when people are feeling depressed, eating highly palatable foods allows them to feel better. However, these feelings of pleasure, motivation, and satisfaction, are often only temporary, and the binge itself leaves the individual feeling guilty and shameful in the long run. 


  • Another theory rests on the fact that eating also triggers the parasympathetic nervous system and the response promotes relaxation and restoration. Eating food triggers the “rest and digest” response instead of the “fight or flight.” The “combined hormonal influx and nervous system switch can result in a calming effect, which someone may subconsciously come to rely on to help them cope with depression.” (4)  


I also have a theory in relation to cortisol, which is found to be higher in many people diagnosed with depression. I will lay it out below. 


  1. About 50% percent of patients with newly diagnosed depression have been observed to have excessive cortisol secretion (5).  


  1. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that your adrenal glands produce and release (6). 


  1. It has been shown that eating excessive amounts of palatable foods (foods high in sugar, fat, and salt) can REDUCE glucocorticoid sensitivity (7). 

 

  1. This would suggest that binge eating is a coping mechanism for this excess cortisol in individuals with depression. 



I would actually argue that binge eating is a coping mechanism for ANYONE who does it. Specifically, those with depressive symptoms may find relief through bingeing because it triggers their dopamine system, creates a calming effect, and negates the excess cortisol that makes them feel the symptoms of depression. 




What Can I Do About It?


Some good news for you, cognitive behavioral therapy is often used to treat depression (10). Why is this good news? Because cognitive behavioral therapy is ALSO one of the most effective ways to treat binge eating and bulimia. 


Although going through the skills and tools of cognitive behavioral therapy is best with a therapist or in an inpatient/outpatient program, I understand that not everyone has the time or resources to dedicate towards tackling their eating disorder. Therefore I have made a self-guided workbook that combines cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy Coming February 2025. 



Not ready to dive into any kind of therapy yet? Here are some daily life changes you can make to help with depression and binge eating/bulimia.  


  1. Start eating breakfast if you don’t already 

    • Eating breakfast can help increase glucose levels and REDUCE CORTISOL levels which lowers stress and increases positive mood (11). 

    • Eating 3 regular meals a day has also been shown to reduce binge behaviors (11). 

  2. Prioritize sleep 

    • People with depression often have difficulty sleeping, and in turn not getting enough quality sleep can also lead to feelings of depression (12). 

  3. Exercise 

    • Get out and move. There have been many studies which demonstrate the importance of just getting sunlight. Exercise also releases feel-good endorphins to help combat depression (13). 

    • Overtime, exercise has also been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline (14). 


In Conclusion…


If you struggle with binge eating/bulimia and depression, you are not alone. And there ARE things that you can do to change your life for the better. Even small changes, like sectioning off 10 minutes a day to go for a walk, start to add up. Once you’ve compiled an array of many small changes (now you eat breakfast, get enough sleep, and have built up to a 20 minute jog…etc.) then you may begin to notice a shift in mood. I encourage you to post any questions you have or anything you’d like to share about your recovery journey on the group discussion page! 


And if you don’t have the time or money for therapy, I have made a self-guided CBT/DBT workbook (specifically for those struggling with binge eating/bulimia) for purchase here. (Coming February 2025). 






Resources 


  1.  Blinder, B. J., Cumella, E. J., & Sanathara, V. A. (2006). Psychiatric comorbidities of female inpatients with eating disorders. Psychosomatic Medicine, 68(3), 454–462. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000221254.77675.f5



  1. Wheatley, S.D., Whitaker, M.J.G. (2019). Why do people overeat? Hunger, psychological eating and type 2 diabetes. Practical Diabetes, 36(4), 136-139e.


  1. The relationship between anxiety, depression, and overeating. (n.d.). https://withinhealth.com/learn/articles/the-relationship-between-anxiety-depression-and-overeating


  1. Dziurkowska, E., & Wesolowski, M. (2021). Cortisol as a biomarker of mental disorder severity. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(21), 5204. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10215204


  1. Professional, C. C. M. (2024a, May 1). Cortisol. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol


  1. Jessica G. Mills, Susan J. Thomas, Theresa A. Larkin, Chao Deng,

  2. Overeating and food addiction in Major Depressive Disorder: Links to peripheral dopamine, Appetite, Volume 148, 2020, 104586, ISSN 0195-6663, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.104586. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666319314229)



  1. Balushi, R. A., & Carciofo, R. (2023). Chronotype, binge-eating, and depression: the mediating effect of skipping breakfast. Biological Rhythm Research, 54(11), 707–721. https://doi.org/10.1080/09291016.2023.2254205


  1. Depression and sleep: Understanding the connection. (2024, June 20). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/depression-and-sleep-understanding-the-connection




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